Alexis Sanchez sentenced to 16 months in prison

Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South)-Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez has been sentenced to 16 months in prison after he was found guilty of the defrauding the Spanish government of £890,000 in image rights, while playing for Barcelona between 2012 and 2013.

However, the sentence was wholly suspended as he is a first offender and the term is less than two years.

Sanchez has also reached an agreement whereby he will repay the money owed, plus interest.

He has two years to pay the money back, before the suspension is lifted, and he will be forced to spend time behind bars if he fails to pay.

Sanchez, 29, is the latest in a long line of high-profile players to have been prosecuted by the Spanish court for alleged tax evasion.-Soccer24